WASHINGTON — In a letter released late Tuesday, National Intelligence Director James Clapper apologized to Senate Intelligence Committee Chairwoman Sen. Dianne Feinstein for saying the federal government does not collect bulk collections of Americans’ communications when it actually has under a section of the Patriot Act.

Democratic Sen. Mark Udall, a member of the Intelligence Committee, and outspoken critic of the Obama administration’s interpretation of the Patriot Act, issued a joint statement with Oregon Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden Tuesday saying they were both “quite familiar” with the bulk email records collection program.

They said they worry that if the government could collect and keep bulk collections of e-mails and phone records, they could also keep information on medical records, library records, credit card purchases and financial information.

“We were very concerned about this program’s impact on Americans’ civil liberties and privacy rights, and we spent a significant portion of 2011 pressing intelligence officials to provide evidence of its effectiveness,” Wyden and Udall said in a statement. “These other types of collection could clearly have a significant impact on Americans’ constitutional rights.”

Wyden and Udall said they believe intelligence officials “may be well-intentioned” but that the government has exaggerated the effectiveness of these data collection programs for the sake of national security.

“Particular programs should not simply be accepted at face value by policymakers or oversight bodies any more than statements about the usefulness of other government programs should be taken at face value when they are made by other government officials,” Wyden and Udall said. “It is up to Congress, the courts and the public to ask the tough questions and press even experienced intelligence officials to back their assertions up with actual evidence.”

Joey Bunch has been a reporter for 28 years, including the last 12 at The Denver Post. For various newspapers he has covered the environment, water issues, politics, civil rights, sports and the casino industry.